Advocacy & Lobbying

The advocacy for empowering women to participate more actively in politics and governance in Nigeria is gathering momentum once again, particularly as the country’s political discourse shifts increasingly towards the 2027 general elections. Indeed, the matter of increased female representation in politics was one of the dominant themes, as it should be in the recently concluded nationwide public consultations on constitutional review. At each zonal hearing, women and other concerned stakeholders made passionate appeals for more inclusive democratic governance in the country.

However, given the failure of previous attempts at addressing and resolving the problem of gender imbalance in Nigeria’s electoral politics, one is not surprised to hear cynics say, “Here we go again.” Although successive governments have tried to implement policies that were aimed at boosting women’s representation in public decision-making, these attempts- albeit well-intentioned- failed abysmally. It is no secret that previous attempts to pass a gender equality bill at the National Assembly, which would have included the much-touted 35 percent quota for women, have been unsuccessful.

In the meantime, women remain at the periphery of Nigeria’s political ecosystem. Consequently, they are grossly underrepresented in political leadership and governance at both the national and sub-national levels.  Currently, Nigeria has no substantive, legally binding affirmative action policy vis à vis fair and equitable gender representation in politics. Rather, a cursory review of the information on demographic representation in electoral politics and public decision-making in the country paints a picture of women’s political exclusion and marginalisation, even though Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) underscores the right of every citizen, including women, to full participation in the life of the country. In particular, Section 40 states that:

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Some stakeholders in the North-east have identified mentorship and quota systems as critical factors that will increase women’s participation in politics.

The stakeholders made this known in a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa on Monday.

However, quota system is a regulatory framework in which a certain number of electoral seats are reserved for women to increase their representation and participation in politics.

The stakeholders said that women had contributed immensely to Nigeria’s democracy in terms of legislation, advocacy, economic reforms and grassroots mobilisation for votes.

They insisted that despite their contributions, women remained under represented in both appointed and elective positions at the local, state and federal government levels.

Golfa Francis, a gender advocate in Adamawa, said deliberate policies of reserving seats and structured political training for women politicians by more experienced women, would increase women’s participation in politics.

“Our society must understand that women are not weak vessels; they are capable, strong, and skilled in managing responsibilities.

“When women are part of decision-making, the outcomes are more sustainable and balanced. Hence, the  initiative should receive the support of all Nigerians,” she said.

Mrs Jamila Babuba, Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Adamawa Chapter, sought for accelerated passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill before the National Assembly, saying it would enhance gender parity.

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The book on Malian women in politics, entitled Comment briser le plafond de verre?: Une recherche engagée sur la participation politique des femmes maliennes, has just been published by researchers of the LACET research lab. The book is the result of the Citizen Perspectives on Societal Challegenges in Mali-project led by Uppsala University's Forum for Africa Studies.

This comparative political ethnography is based on field research carried out by 13 researchers in 20 research sites. By listening to the stories of female politicians themselves, the study analyzes the opportunities and constraints related to women's "breakthrough" in politics. The interviews with female politicians are interwoven with ethnographic case studies, including the process of developing the Law No. 2015-052 of December 18, 2015, for the promotion of gender in access to nominative and elective offices.

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DHAKA, Sept 23, 2025 (BSS)- Narir Rajnoitik Odhikar Forum (NROF) today demanded that political parties must nominate 33 percent women candidates mandatorily outside the reserved seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections.

The forum made this demand during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Agargaon Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. 

Four other election commissioners and the EC's senior secretary were present at the time.

After the meeting, Women's Affairs Reform Commission member Maheen Sultan told reporters, "We have raised our demands and expectations to ensure equal status of women voters, women candidates and women citizens.” 

The Election Commission (EC) has also announced to take several steps, she said. 

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Ulaanbaatar, September 18, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The Asian Women Parliamentarian Caucus (AWPC) Meeting 2025 was commenced on September 15, 2025, under the theme of “Achieving Gender Equality through Economic Empowerment: Policies for a Sustainable Future.

On the second day of the AWPC Meeting on September 16, 2025, the conference continued with the “Women in the Workforce: Closing the Pay Gap” session, followed by a discussion on the discrepancy in the “Equal Work, Equal Pay” policy in certain countries. Specifically, low wages, sometimes even non-payments, in fields where women work most, are one of the reasons that lead to poverty. Depending on the geographical location, economic, and cultural conditions of Mongolia, men often work in fields that pay high wages, which can stifle financial freedom and prevent women from securing leadership positions. Member of Parliament Jargalan Batbayar noted that relatively well-paying jobs in Mongolia, such as those in the construction and mining sectors, are predominantly held by men, which contributes to the disparity, and that this issue requires careful attention.

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